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S Lanka campaign enters final day Sri Lanka poll violence warning
(about 10 hours later)
By Charles Haviland BBC News, Colombo Hundreds of violent incidents have been reported The main opposition candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential election has accused the ruling party of planning violence to win Tuesday's vote.
The final day of campaigning is taking place ahead of Sri Lanka's presidential election on Tuesday. Gen Sarath Fonseka said the violence would deter voters and a low turnout would help the party of President Mahinda Rajapaksa rig the election.
Although the war in the north of the island is now over, the campaign in other parts of the island has become bitter, violent and personal. Election clashes have so far left four dead and hundreds wounded.
The two main candidates are both closely associated with the government's defeat of the Tamil Tigers last May. The government denies it has been behind the unrest and says it is stepping up security for the poll.
But now President Mahinda Rajapaksa and General Sarath Fonseka have fallen out bitterly. Saturday is the final day of campaigning, with both of the main candidates holding their last election rallies.
Groups monitoring the conduct of the campaign say there have been hundreds of violent incidents, resulting in four deaths and many more wounded. 'Gravely concerned'
Early on Friday, one of Gen Fonseka's campaign managers had his house firebombed. President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka are closely associated with the government's defeat of the Tamil Tigers last May but the pair fell out bitterly soon after.
He blamed the president, but the government said it was "gravely concerned at this wanton act of violence". Mr Rajapaksa's party says security is being enhanced for the vote
Both candidates have toured the country, including the northern Tamil city of Jaffna from which the rebels once ran their self-declared homeland. Gen Fonseka said on Saturday: "They are getting ready for violence. The violence will support the rigging basically. The violence will reduce the voter attendance, then the rigging will take place."
But Saturday will see them both addressing rallies in the capital, and hoping for huge turnouts. The general said he was hoping the security forces would protect his candidacy, adding that he expected most of them to vote for him.
He added: "We can't counter violence with violence. We have to abide by the law."
Mr Rajapakse's office said on Friday it was "gravely concerned" about the violence.
A ruling party statement said: "Instructions have been given to the authorities to bolster security at sensitive locations and all political events up to and on polling day to ensure that all Sri Lankans can participate safely in the electoral process."
The election commissioner has urged both sides to work towards easing the violence.
The result of the election is expected on Wednesday.